Chrysanthemum plant named `Splendid Reagan`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named Splendid Reagan, bearing small to medium sized purple blooms with a green center and performance of 24-28 days.

The cultivar `Splendid Reagan` as described and illustrated herein is related to the following cultivars:

`Dark Red Reagan` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,929);

`Sunny Reagan` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,928);

`Reagan` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,642);

`Salmon Reagan` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,869);

`Sulfur Reagan` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,786);

`Dark Reagan` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,966);

`Orange Reagan` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,769);

`Bronze Reagan` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,865);

`White Reagan` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,784);

`Coral Reagan` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,974);

`Yellow Reagan` (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,884);

`Dark Splendid Reagan` (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 08/646,224); and

`Cream Reagan` (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 08/738,606).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant which is a natural occurring sport of a parent Chrysanthemum named `Reagan`. Parent Chrysanthemum `Reagan` is described in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,642. The new cultivar was discovered as a whole plant mutation in 1990 in a greenhouse in Holland.

The invention has been asexually reproduced by cuttings at the same location. The new cultivar has been found to retain all of its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum of a small to medium sized bloom and purple color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention of a new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.

FIG. 1 shows the full bloom of the new cultivar.

FIG. 2 shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar.

FIG. 3 shows foliage and petiole of the new cultivar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This new variety of chrysanthemum is of the botanical classification Chrysanthemum morifolium. When grown in the vicinity of Ter Aar, Holland, it has a response time of approximately 71/2 weeks. This new variety produces small to medium sized purple blooms with a green center having a 4 week performance (i.e., vase life of 24-28 days). This new variety of Chrysanthemum has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics throughout successive propagations and may be planted under greenhouse conditions in Holland between weeks 50 and 35.

The following is a description of the plant and characteristics (color designations are from The R.H.S. Colour Chart) that distinguish it from related known varieties and its antecedents. The color designations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, any discrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted in the photographs are due to photographic tolerances.

    ______________________________________                                         Detailed Botanical Description and Comparative Data                            ______________________________________                                         CULTIVAR    Splendid Reagan                                                                              Dark Splendid Reagan                                 ______________________________________                                         Bud                                                                            Size        Medium        Medium                                                           cross section ±1.0 cm                                                                     cross section ±1.0 cm                                         height ±0.7 cm                                                                            height ±0.7 cm                                    Form        Round and flat                                                                               Round and flat                                       Outside Color                                                                              Near Red-Purple 70A                                                                          Near Red-Purple 70A                                  Bloom                                                                          Size        Small to Medium                                                                              Medium                                               Fully Expanded                                                                             6-61/2 cm     61/2-7 cm                                            Borne       Upper portion, single                                                                        Upper portion, single                                            flower per peduncle,                                                                         flower per peduncle,                                             lower portion plural                                                                         lower portion plural                                             flowers per peduncle                                                                         flowers per peduncle                                 Peduncle Lengths                                                                           Near the top ±14 cm,                                                                      Near the top ±14 cm,                                          near the middle                                                                              near the middle ±24 cm,                                       ±24 cm,    near the bottom ±28 cm                                        near the bottom                                                                ±28 cm                                                          Peduncle Lateral                                                                           Medium        medium                                               Shoot, Attachment                                                              Peduncle Lateral                                                                           Medium        small                                                Shoot, Angle                                                                   Form        Single (Daisy)                                                                               Single (Daisy)                                       Performance Very good 24-28 days                                                                         Very good 24-28 days                                             (18-20° C.)                                                                           (19-20° C.)                                   Color                                                                          Center of Flower                                                               Mature      Yellow-Green 143B                                                                            Yellow-Green 144A                                    Immature    Yellow-Green 144C                                                                            Yellow-Green 154A                                    Base of Petals                                                                             Near Purple-Violet                                                                           Near Red-Purple 71C                                              80D but slightly                                                                             but very slightly                                                more red      more blue                                            Outer Petals                                                                               Near Purple-Violet                                                                           Near Red-Purple 71C                                              80D but slightly                                                                             but very slightly                                                more red      more blue                                            Inside of Petals                                                                           Near Purple-Violet                                                                           Near Red-Purple 71C                                              80D but slightly                                                                             but bery slightly                                                more red      more blue                                            Reverse of Petals                                                                          Near Purple 75D                                                                              Nearest Purple-Violet                                            but slightly deeper                                                                          80D but more grey                                                              and with a slightly                                                            deeper tesselation                                   Tonality from                                                                              A purple daisy with                                                                          A purple daisy with                                  Distance    a fresh looking center                                                                       a fresh looking center                                           having a little or                                                                           having a little or                                               no pollen     no pollen                                            Discoloration                                                                              to Purple 75C Some to Red-Purple                                                             72C                                                  Pollen      Yellow-Orange 14A                                                                            Yellow-Orange 14A                                    Petals                                                                         Texture     Upperside smooth,                                                                            Upperside smooth,                                                underside smooth                                                                             underside smooth                                     Number      24-30 (two rows)                                                                             24-30 (two rows)                                     Cross-section                                                                              Convex (no keels)                                                                            flat, no keels                                       Arrangement Imbricated    Imbricated                                           Persistence Good. Petals keep                                                                            Good. Petals keep                                                straight or reflex                                                                           straight or reflex                                               somewhat at the                                                                              somewhat at the                                                  edge at the   edge at the                                                      end of blooming.                                                                             end of blooming.                                     Fragrance   Typical       Typical                                                          Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum                                        Disc Diameter                                                                              Medium to large                                                                              Medium to large                                                  (1.5-2.0 cm)  (1.5-2.0 cm)                                         Reproductive                                                                   Organs                                                                         Stamen      Yellow, thick,                                                                               Yellow, thick,                                                   3 mm in length                                                                               3 mm in length                                       Pollen      Appears at late                                                                              Appears at late                                                  stage of blooming                                                                            stage of blooming                                    Styles      Green, thick  Green, thick                                         Style Length                                                                               ±5 mm      ±5 mm                                             Stigmas     Yellow        Yellow                                               Stigma Width                                                                               ±1 mm      ±1 mm                                             Ovaries     Enclosed in calyx                                                                            Enclosed in calyx                                    Plant                                                                          Form        Spray mum meant for                                                                          Spray mum meant for                                              erect culture.                                                                               erect culture.                                                   Herbaceous.   Herbaceous.                                          Growth      Medium        Medium                                               Height      100-125 cm    100-125 cm                                           Stem Color  Near Yellow-Green                                                                            Yellow-Green 144A                                                146C                                                               Stem Strength                                                                              Medium        Strong                                               Stem Brittleness                                                                           Absent        Absent                                               Stem Anthocyanin                                                                           Present       Present, at the base                                 Coloration                and along the ribs                                   Internodes  3-31/2 cm     3 cm                                                 Flowering Response                                                                         71/2 weeks    71/2 weeks                                           Foliage                                                                        Color       Upperside green 147A.                                                                        Upperside Green 137A.                                            Underside Green                                                                              Underside Green 137C.                                            147B.                                                              Size        Length ±11 cm.                                                                            Length ±11 cm.                                                Width ±9 cm.                                                                              Width ±9 cm.                                      Quantity    22-28         22-28                                                Shape       Lobed         Lobed                                                Texture     Upperside rough,                                                                             Upperside rough,                                                 underside smooth,                                                                            underside smooth,                                                slightly hirsute                                                                             slightly hirsute                                     Ribs and Veins                                                                             Ribs well developed.                                                                         Ribs well developed.                                             Veins not so  Veins not so                                                     developed     developed.                                           Edge        Crenated      Crenated                                             Shape of Base of                                                                           Round         Round                                                Sinus Between                                                                  Lateral Lobes                                                                  Margin of Sinus                                                                            Converging    Converging                                           Between                                                                        Lateral Lobes                                                                  Shape of Base                                                                              Truncate      Cordate                                              Apex        Mucronate     Mucronate                                            Growth                                                                         Differenee in                                                                                0             0                                                  average length                                                                 Response time                                                                  Differenee in days                                                                          +1            +1/2                                                of average response                                                            Response to ALAR                                                               (g/100 l H.sub.2 O)                                                                         300           300                                                 Year of Discovery                                                                          1990          1991                                                 ______________________________________                                         CULTIVAR    Dark Reagan   Dark Red Reagan                                      ______________________________________                                         Bud                                                                            Size        Medium        Medium                                                           cross section ±1.0 cm                                                                     cross section ±1.0 cm                                         height ±0.7 cm                                                                            height ±0.7 cm                                    Form        Round and flat                                                                               Round and flat                                       Outside Color                                                                              Between Greyed                                                                               Near Greyed Purple                                               Purple 186A and B                                                                            186A                                                 Bloom                                                                          Size        Medium        Medium                                               Fully Expanded                                                                             6-61/2 cm     61/2-7 cm                                            Borne       Upper portion, single                                                                        Upper portion, single                                            flower per peduncle,                                                                         flower per peduncle,                                             lower portion plural                                                                         lower portion plural                                             flowers per peduncle                                                                         flowers per peduncle                                 Peduncle Lengths                                                                           Near the top ±14 cm,                                                                      Near the top ±14 cm,                                          near the middle                                                                              near the middle ±24 cm,                                       ±24 cm,    near the bottom ±28 cm                                        near the bottom                                                                ±28 cm                                                          Peduncle Lateral                                                                           Medium        Weak to medium                                       Shoot, Attachment                                                              Peduncle Lateral                                                                           Medium        small                                                Shoot, Angle                                                                   Form        Single (Daisy)                                                                               Single (Daisy)                                       Performance Very good 24-30 days                                                                         Very good 24-28 days                                             (18-20° C.)                                                                           (18-20° C.)                                   Color                                                                          Center of Flower                                                               Mature      Yellow-Green 151C                                                                            Yellow-Green 144A                                    Immature    Yellow-Green 154A                                                                            Yellow-Green 154A                                    Base of Petals                                                                             Red-Purple 69B lightly                                                                       Unevenly colored; near                                           overlaid with Red-                                                                           Greyed-Red 182A                                                  Purple 72A giving an                                                                         lightly streaked with                                            overall impression of                                                                        Greyed-Orange 167B                                               purple 75A but pinker                                              Outer Petals                                                                               Red-Purple 69B lightly                                                                       Unevenly colored; near                                           overlaid with Red-                                                                           Greyed-Red 182A                                                  Purple 72A giving an                                                                         lightly streaked with                                            overall impression of                                                                        Greyed-Orange 167B                                               purple 75A but pinker                                              Inside of Petals                                                                           Red-Purple 69B lightly                                                                       Unevenly colored; near                                           overlaid with Red-                                                                           Greyed-Red 182A                                                  Purple 72A giving an                                                                         lightly streaked with                                            overall impression of                                                                        Greyed-Orange 167B                                               purple 75A but pinker                                              Reverse of Petals                                                                          Red-Purple 69C                                                                               Yellow-White 158A                                                with a light  tinged with Greyed-                                              tesselation of Red-                                                                          Purple 186D between                                              Purple 72A    the ribs and towards                                                           the margin                                           Tonality from                                                                              A pale bronze daisy                                                                          A red daisy with                                     Distance    with a fresh looking                                                                         a fresh looking center                                           center having a little or                                                                    having a little or                                               no pollen     no pollen                                            Discoloration                                                                              Some to Red-Purple                                                                           Some to Greyed-Red                                               69C           181C                                                 Pollen      Yellow-Orange 14A                                                                            Yellow-Orange 14A                                    Petals                                                                         Texture     Upperside smooth,                                                                            Upperside smooth,                                                underside smooth                                                                             underside smooth                                     Number      24-30 (two rows)                                                                             24-30 (two rows)                                     Cross-section                                                                              flat, (two keels)                                                                            convex, two keels                                    Arrangement Imbricated    Imbricated                                           Persistence Good. Petals keep                                                                            Good. Petals keep                                                straight or reflex                                                                           straight or reflex                                               somewhat at the                                                                              somewhat at the                                                  edge at the   edge at the                                                      end of blooming.                                                                             end of blooming.                                     Fragrance   Typical       Typical                                                          Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum                                        Disc Diameter                                                                              Medium        Medium to large                                                  (1.5 cm)      (1.5-2.0 cm)                                         Reproductive                                                                   Organs                                                                         Stamen      Yellow, thick,                                                                               Yellow, thick,                                                   3 mm in length                                                                               3 mm in length                                       Pollen      Appears at a late                                                                            Appears at late                                                  stage of blooming,                                                                           stage of blooming                                                yellow-orange in color                                             Styles      Green, thick  Green, thick                                         Style Length                                                                               ±5 mm      ±5 mm                                             Stigmas     Yellow        Yellow                                               Stigma Width                                                                               ±1 mm      ±1 mm                                             Ovaries     Enclosed in calyx                                                                            Enclosed in calyx                                    Plant                                                                          Form        Spray mum meant for                                                                          Spray mum meant for                                              erect culture.                                                                               erect culture.                                                   Herbaceous.   Herbaceous.                                          Growth      Strong        Medium                                               Height      100-125 cm    100-125 cm                                           Stem Color  Yellow-Green  Yellow-Green 144A                                                144A                                                               Stem Strength                                                                              Medium        Strong                                               Stem Brittleness                                                                           Present       Absent                                               Stem Anthocyanin                                                                           Present       Present, at the base                                 Coloration                and along the ribs                                   Internodes  3 cm          3 cm                                                 Flowering Response                                                                         71/2 weeks    71/2 weeks                                           Foliage                                                                        Color       Upperside green 137A.                                                                        Upperside Green 137B.                                            Underside Green                                                                              Underside Green 137C.                                            137C.                                                              Size        Length ±12 cm.                                                                            Length ±11 cm.                                                Width ±9 cm.                                                                              Width ±9 cm.                                      Quantity    22-28         22-28                                                Shape       Lobed         Lobed                                                Texture     Upperside rough,                                                                             Upperside rough,                                                 underside smooth,                                                                            underside smooth,                                                slightly hirsute                                                                             slightly hirsute                                     Ribs and Veins                                                                             Ribs well developed.                                                                         Ribs well developed.                                             Veins not so  Veins not so                                                     developed.    developed.                                           Edge        Crenated      Crenated                                             Shape of Base of                                                                           Round         Round                                                Sinus Between                                                                  Lateral Lobes                                                                  Margin of Sinus                                                                            Converging    Converging                                           Between                                                                        Lateral Lobes                                                                  Shape of Base                                                                              Asymmetric    Cordate                                              Apex        Mucronate     Mucronate                                            Growth                                                                         Differenee in                                                                                0             0                                                  average length                                                                 Response time                                                                  Differenee in days                                                                          +1            +1/2                                                of average response                                                            Response to ALAR                                                               (g/100 l H.sub.2 O)                                                                         300           300                                                 Year of Discovery                                                                          1990          1992                                                 ______________________________________                                                     Parent                                                             CULTIVAR    Cultivar Reagan                                                    ______________________________________                                         Bud                                                                            Size        Medium                                                                         cross section ±1.0 cm                                                       height ±0.7 cm                                                  Form        Round and flat                                                     Outside Color                                                                              Near Greyed Purple                                                             186A                                                               Bloom                                                                          Size        Medium                                                             Fully Expanded                                                                             61/2-7 cm                                                          Borne       Upper portion, single                                                          flower per peduncle,                                                           lower portion plural                                                           flowers per peduncle                                               Peduncle Lengths                                                                           Near the top ±14 cm,                                                        near the middle                                                                ±24 cm,                                                                     near the bottom                                                                ±28 cm                                                          Peduncle Lateral                                                                           Medium                                                             Shoot, Attachment                                                              Peduncle Lateral                                                                           Medium                                                             Shoot, Angle                                                                   Form        Single (Daisy)                                                     Performance Very good 24-28 days                                                           (18-20° C.)                                                 Color                                                                          Center of Flower                                                               Mature      Yellow-Green 151C                                                  Immature    Yellow-Green 154A                                                  Base of Petals                                                                             Purple 75B                                                         Outer Petals                                                                               Purple 75B                                                         Inside of Petals                                                                           Purple 75B                                                         Reverse of Petals                                                                          Red-Purple 69D                                                                 but paler                                                          Tonality from                                                                              A pale pink daisy                                                  Distance    with a fresh fresh                                                             looking center having                                                          a little or                                                                    no pollen                                                          Discoloration                                                                              Some to Red-Purple                                                             69D                                                                Pollen      Yellow-Orange 14A                                                  Petals                                                                         Texture     Upperside smooth,                                                              underside smooth                                                   Number      24-30 (two rows)                                                   Cross-section                                                                              flat, (two keels)                                                  Arrangement Imbricated                                                         Persistence Good. Petals keep                                                              straight or reflex                                                             somewhat at the                                                                edge at the                                                                    end of blooming.                                                   Fragrance   Typical                                                                        Chrysanthemum                                                      Disc Diameter                                                                              Medium                                                                         (1.5 cm)                                                           Reproductive                                                                   Organs                                                                         Stamen      Yellow, thick,                                                                 3 mm in length                                                     Pollen      Appears at late                                                                stage of blooming                                                  Styles      Green, thick                                                       Style Length                                                                               ±5 mm                                                           Stigmas     Yellow                                                             Stigma Width                                                                               ±1 mm                                                           Ovaries     Enclosed in calyx                                                  Plant                                                                          Form        Spray mum meant for                                                            erect culture.                                                                 Herbaceous.                                                        Growth      Strong                                                             Height      100-125 cm                                                         Stem Color  Yellow-Green                                                                   144A                                                               Stem Strength                                                                              Medium                                                             Stem Brittleness                                                                           Present                                                            Stem Anthocyanin                                                                           Absent                                                             Coloration                                                                     Internodes  3 cm                                                               Flowering Response                                                                         71/2 weeks                                                         Foliage                                                                        Color       Upperside green 137A.                                                          Underside Green                                                                137C.                                                              Size        Length ±12 cm.                                                              Width ±9 cm.                                                    Quantity    22-28                                                              Shape       Lobed                                                              Texture     Upperside rough,                                                               underside smooth,                                                              slightly hirsute                                                   Ribs and Veins                                                                             Ribs well developed.                                                           Veins not so                                                                   developed.                                                         Edge        Crenated                                                           Shape of Base of                                                                           Round                                                              Sinus Between                                                                  Lateral Lobes                                                                  Margin of Sinus                                                                            Converging                                                         Between                                                                        Lateral Lobes                                                                  Shape of Base                                                                              Rounded                                                            Apex        Cuspidate                                                          Growth                                                                         Differenee in                                                                                0                                                                average length                                                                 Response time                                                                  Differenee in days                                                                          +0                                                                of average response                                                            Response to ALAR                                                               (g/100 l H.sub.2 O)                                                                         300                                                               Year of Discovery                                                                          1986                                                               ______________________________________                                     

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Chrysanthemum plant as described and illustrated. 